Vandals damage historic tombstones in Camillus cemetery

Peter Chen/The Post-StandardOne of the vandalized tombstones at Belle Isle Cemetery in Camillus

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Vandals toppled eight tombstones, including one marking the grave of one of the area’s earliest settlers, in Belle Isle Cemetery in Camillus earlier this week.

A cemetery worker noticed the damage Thursday night, said Gary Cook, president of the association that oversees the cemetery at Armstrong and Van Buren roads. The vandalism occurred either Tuesday or Wednesday night, he said.

The vandalism happened in the oldest part of the 9-acre, 201-year-old cemetery.

One of the tombstones overturned is a 900-pound limestone monument on the grave of David Hinsdale, a Camillus pioneer who died in 1853.

“It’s a sickening feeling,” Cook said Friday as he surveyed the damage. “There’s no rhyme or reason for it. It’s misdirected energy.”

Some of the toppled stones broke.

Cook said cemetery officials believe the vandalism happened at night. He believes more than one person was involved because of the weight of the monuments.

Camillus police are investigating. An evidence technician photographed the damaged stones and dusted for fingerprints Thursday, said Lt. Tim Macholl of the Camillus Police Department. It will take three to four weeks to get results back from the crime lab.

He said police will interview people who live nearby. Anyone with information can call the Camillus police at 487-0102 or file a report on the Camillus police website.

Macholl said the cemetery used to be a popular place for partying at night by young people.

Cook estimated the value of the damage at $5,000 to $10,000. He said the cemetery plans to seek financial assistance for repairs from the New York Department of State Division of Cemeteries, which has a vandalism fund.

Cemetery officials have cleaned and glued cracked stones in the past to improve the old section of the graveyard, Cook said.

The damage caused by the vandals is so extensive the cemetery will have to hire a contractor to do the work, he said.